This game was really the blandest Mario game to date. Yes some of the new coin aspects were cool but that was pretty much the only new thing. It felt like a repeat of New Super Mario Bros DS but with less challenging levels and mediocre boss battles. Overall this game is very forgettable and should really never be spoken of again.

This game is, put simply, the weakest entry in the Super Mario Bros series. The new 'gimmick' with this game is collecting large amounts of coins, which causes the inherent issue of gaining hundreds of lives very quickly, meaning that a game over is virtually impossible to get, especially considering that the levels are actually pretty easy compared to the other NSMB games. The gameThis game is, put simply, the weakest entry in the Super Mario Bros series. The new 'gimmick' with this game is collecting large amounts of coins, which causes the inherent issue of gaining hundreds of lives very quickly, meaning that a game over is virtually impossible to get, especially considering that the levels are actually pretty easy compared to the other NSMB games. The game originally challenges you to collect 1 million coins, but this is unlikely to be achieved during story mode, and as a result you will more than likely have to purchase paid DLC in order to do this. This supports the idea that this game was rushed in order to get more sales; ironic since this is what Mario will be doing in the game as well.
The single player campaign is not massively long or difficult, and the game lacks replayability, and has no multiplayer modes like the minigames or Mario vs Luigi on NSMB DS.
It isn't broken or unplayable in any way. It's just very lacking and not at all memorable, and I expect a lot better from a major Mario game.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
While this game can be fun for new gamers, I just feel that this game is just too similar to the other New Super Mario Bros. games and doesn't really offer anything new.

Why the heck do we have so many coins? Why would we focus on coins at all? The only thing the coins really seem to do for you is collect lives, and by the time you reach the generic final boss you should have a ton of lives. Coins are nearly impossible to avoid, as they're everywhere.

Then we have the soundtrack. It's almost ripped straight out of New Super Mario Bros. Wii! I mean, why would we just reuse the same soundtrack, it doesn't really offer anything new. Some of the graphics are ripped from New Super Mario Bros. Wii as well but I guess that doesn't really matter...

And they remove all the fun stuff. Where's the penguin suit? The propeller cap? Those were fun to use and we don't have them anymore, now we have two coin based powerups instead that generally just make gameplay easier. We also have the invincible leaf now. Why?? It's practically a cheat device to get you all of the star coins!

The game is also shorter than the other NSMB games. Not only that, but they're much easier now due to the absurd number of coins and high amount of items. You only need to go through six worlds to get to the final boss, and it can be even shorter if you use cannons to skip nearly everything.
Then we have the final boss. It's so unoriginal, it starts off as the classic 8-4 battle then we take a step backwards as Bowser grows giant and the chase scene thing begins once again! But instead of going to the right, you go upward as the screen autoscrolls, and you do literally nothing but dodge Bowser's attacks as you go from platform to platform. Talk about bad final bosses and laziness. We also have Dry Bowser that does the exact same thing in this game.

Okay, why did Nintendo make this game so easy, so unoriginal and so uninspired? Why is nearly everything from other games? It feels so bland that it's not fun at all. At best, the game can keep you entertained by looking for star coins but even then they're really easy to find, you just need to search a bit. Even if you die a lot, you'll be earning more lives than losing them, as again, the coins are really easy to get.

I'm sorry, but this game is horrendous. At least there's no glitches or anything that ruins the gameplay mechanics. I expected much more from a Mario game overall, I do not recommend this at all, please go and find a better Mario game to play.…Expand

Worst Mario platformer in the series. Don't waste more than $10 on this game. Everything about this game is a rehash. While the level design isn't bad, I found myself bored after a couple of levels because of all the reused assets. Also, the music sucks.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
This game is just plain boring. I have no idea what I was thinking back in February 2013 when I gave this an 8. Literally EVERYTHING in this game except for the World Mushroom, Flower & Star music is recycled from New Super Mario Bros Wii.

What the hell were they thinking? That if they did the same final battle again except with Bowser chasing you vertically instead of horizontally, that people would love it? Nintendo, a company that's known for bringing us a lot of fresh, original games, could not have sunk lower than this.

I guess you could buy this if you haven't played NSMBW, but even then I'm pretty sure you'd be better off playing NSMBW, because that's a better game with more new things than this game.

Only reason I'm not giving this a 0 is because the game works fine, I guess? No glitchy gameplay or anything, so that's a plus.…Expand

All Mario/Luigi games on the 3DS have ranged from average to just bad. This game is in the bad section. The new Mario games are turning into COD. a new game coming out every year. In fact, It is even worse at this point. New Mario 2 and New Mario u came out the exact same year. Anyway. The game is bad. Its ugly, the level design is pathetic. The music is rehashed with even more wahs andAll Mario/Luigi games on the 3DS have ranged from average to just bad. This game is in the bad section. The new Mario games are turning into COD. a new game coming out every year. In fact, It is even worse at this point. New Mario 2 and New Mario u came out the exact same year. Anyway. The game is bad. Its ugly, the level design is pathetic. The music is rehashed with even more wahs and bahs. Level designs are cliche. Don't play this game. Don't give Nintendo your money…Expand

NSMB.2 surely has to be one of the worst Mario titles to date. Never has it been so apparent of the unspectacular level designs and relatively charmless gameplay. The 3D in the game is completely ineffectual, it just blurs the background that's it! NSMB.2's main gameplay feature is the large supply of gold coins scattered within the levels, with the aim of collecting as many as you canNSMB.2 surely has to be one of the worst Mario titles to date. Never has it been so apparent of the unspectacular level designs and relatively charmless gameplay. The 3D in the game is completely ineffectual, it just blurs the background that's it! NSMB.2's main gameplay feature is the large supply of gold coins scattered within the levels, with the aim of collecting as many as you can while also rescuing the independent as ever (ha!) Princess Peach. The gold coin collecting idea feels cheap and shallow, just a glorified collect-em-up essentially. The game features characters from the original Super Mario Bros. Trilogy but as with the Wii version of NSMB, this implementation is purely for nostalgic purposes but has no overall effect on the actual game. Co-op mode is wishy washy and to be honest, just as clunky as NSMB Wii's multiplayer was, with the character only focusing on the leading player making the game feel more competitive than cooperative. The Gold Rush mode is a fancy word for collect-em-up time trials. The premise is simple, collect as many gold coins throughout a set a three levels and reach the exits, then repeat these to improve your score. Sounds fair enough but improving your high score is not entirely accurate as the levels are randomised each time!? I know...there is DLC Coin Rush levels but it is a rather lame attempt at longevity to be honest.

Graphics: 6/10
Gameplay: 6/10
Features: 5/10

I would stick with your copy of Super Mario 3D Land (if you have it, if not buy that instead) because this Mario title is sadly not worth your time.…Expand

It's funny how this game is called new super Mario bros 2 but there is nothing new about all the sound tracks (except for the reznor theme) are recycled from new super Mario bros Wii, all of the enemies are recycled from new Smb, new Smb Wii, and 3d land, even the final battle is the same as in new Smb Wii: bowser grows giant for the third time in a row and when you fight dry bowser, it'sIt's funny how this game is called new super Mario bros 2 but there is nothing new about all the sound tracks (except for the reznor theme) are recycled from new super Mario bros Wii, all of the enemies are recycled from new Smb, new Smb Wii, and 3d land, even the final battle is the same as in new Smb Wii: bowser grows giant for the third time in a row and when you fight dry bowser, it's the exact same battle as when you battle bowser, the only thing about this game that is new is the gold flower and the heavy emphasis on coins but all you get for collecting a million coins is a new title screen I have no idea what nintendo was thinking when they made this game…Expand

AVOID!!!! I love mario but this is just poor. the 4 hour single player mode is fine but not one level will strike out as amazing, which you come to expect from Nintendo. the tacked on 1000000 coin goal is terrible, you will be bored to death trying to get 1000000. I got around 50000 on my first play through, and to get all the star coins i was near 80000, and I had enough. The racoon suitAVOID!!!! I love mario but this is just poor. the 4 hour single player mode is fine but not one level will strike out as amazing, which you come to expect from Nintendo. the tacked on 1000000 coin goal is terrible, you will be bored to death trying to get 1000000. I got around 50000 on my first play through, and to get all the star coins i was near 80000, and I had enough. The racoon suit is awsome and coin rush mode is a good addition, but overall a poor package…Expand

The poor state of the economy finally filters its way to the mushroom kingdom.
Now not only does Mario have to save the Princess AGAIN but he has to recoup a million coins so the mushroom kingdom doesn't repossess his castle.
I can only assume Mario is the princesses handyman or servant of some description, as a lowly plumber she surely must be aware that her status demands she marryThe poor state of the economy finally filters its way to the mushroom kingdom.
Now not only does Mario have to save the Princess AGAIN but he has to recoup a million coins so the mushroom kingdom doesn't repossess his castle.
I can only assume Mario is the princesses handyman or servant of some description, as a lowly plumber she surely must be aware that her status demands she marry into another reputable household less she tarnish what I am sure is a long upstanding family name.
Mario may be a hero, but he is no prince, nor a knight. His only title is Plumber. Doesn't even have an apprentice to do his dirty work for him. I mean even if you counted Luigi, which no one does, they do the crap work together. Not a sound mind for business it would seem.
Probably why he's in dire financial straits in the first place. His plan to fix it? Kill things and turn them into money.
Actually that isn't the worst plan he's had.…Expand

This game, is the worst proper mario game, since mario 2. The world designs and the music are incredibly similar to the other NSMB games. The coin gimmick is pointless, since the coins dont actually give you anything other than a different title screen. The gameplay is fun, but its still the same mario game we've experienced for over 20 years.
To make the game better i would suggestThis game, is the worst proper mario game, since mario 2. The world designs and the music are incredibly similar to the other NSMB games. The coin gimmick is pointless, since the coins dont actually give you anything other than a different title screen. The gameplay is fun, but its still the same mario game we've experienced for over 20 years.
To make the game better i would suggest composing a new soundtrack. try making some good original environments that actually make use of the 3DS's 3D effect and also try and do something new with the mario license. Develop the story mode a little. Add something to make coin collecting worth something, maybe do what the Lego games are doing and make it so that you use coins to buy more characters or special items.…Expand

Unfortunately this game is incredibly boring. The problem is not in the mechanics as it is a mario game, but I believe that this the first mario game with a complete lack of originality. The coin gimmick don't count and actually doesn't add any value or enjoyment to the game. To sum up in points this is why I think this is a weak mario title:
- Nearly the same exact world themes fromUnfortunately this game is incredibly boring. The problem is not in the mechanics as it is a mario game, but I believe that this the first mario game with a complete lack of originality. The coin gimmick don't count and actually doesn't add any value or enjoyment to the game. To sum up in points this is why I think this is a weak mario title:
- Nearly the same exact world themes from NSMB.
- No creativity which was evident in mario games (SMW2, MG 1&2, SMB3, SM64, etc.)
- The coin gimmick is seriously just a gimmick without adding any fun to the game.
- Coin rush is not really a fun multiplayer mode.

I hate to say this but it seems that Nintendo just released NSMB2 considering mario as a cash cow and I hope this doesn't continue as a trend. I'm in world six right now and I'm forcing myself to finish the game.…Expand

This game is just a PAINFULLY blatant rehash of all the other NSMB games with a coin gimmick. Honestly, I expected a lot more from a Mario game and I seriously hope Nintendo learns their lesson with this title.

This game is short and the lack of innovation caused this review. No online mp in 2012 is brutal and unacceptable. Just bc it's Mario doesn't make it good, this is pandering and I'm not a fan anymore as an adult. I demand better in my games and this doesn't cut it. The raccoon suit only thing remotely positive in this game.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 isn't really all that new anymore. What you
get is basically the same game as the first one for the Nintendo DS,
but with less engaging levels, fewer surprises in terms of power-ups
and gameplay, and a boring gimmick set on capturing your inner
kleptomaniac.